An unmanned police helicopter has taken to the sky for the first time under a 'cutting-edge' taxpayer-funded scheme.
The National Police Air Service (NPAS) is hoping the remotely-piloted aircraft will be able to join its helicopter fleet in the future to carry out searches for criminals and missing people.
Adding to its 'eyes in the skies', it is capable of flying at a maximum height of 18,000ft, soaring through the air at 115mph and is able to stay airborne for up to six hours.
Police say is it 'not possible' to say how much one uncrewed aircraft costs, but the scheme is being funded by all police forces in England and Wales and the Home Office.
Critics have suggested an unmanned police helicopter is simply a drone, while others pointed out that it needs a remote pilot anyway.
